Franco agrees with Manuel: Torre was out of line
FILE - New York Mets manager Jerry Manuel, right, watches his team bat against the Atlanta Braves with Ike Davis, rear, during the ninth inning. (Aug. 4, 2010) Credit: AP
Jerry Manuel wasn't the only one irked by Joe Torre's public admission that he'd be "curious" about the possibility of managing the Mets next season. So too was former Mets closer John Franco, who, like Torre, was born and raised in Brooklyn.
"I think he was probably a bit out of line to say that right now," the four-time All-Star said Wednesday night at a benefit for the James Beard Foundation and Queens Economic Development Corporation at Citi Field. "Maybe he should have waited until after the season."
Tuesday night in Miami, Jerry Manuel questioned Torre's integrity after hearing about the Dodgers manager's remarks to Mike Francesa on WFAN Monday afternoon. Torre has since apologized, which Franco said should put the matter to rest. "It's water under the bridge," Franco said.
Franco was joined at the event by former teammate Darryl Strawberry, who played the last four seasons of his career under Torre with the Yankees. Strawberry wouldn't bite on the Torre-to-the-Mets speculation.
"I'm not going to comment on that," he said. "It's not right to talk about something like that when the season's still going and the team is in a situation with a manager."
Did he think Torre's comments were out of line?
"Somebody could always blow it out of proportion and run with it," he said. "I know Joe's a class act and Jerry's a class act, and as professionals, nobody likes to see that come to light."
Straw missed The Boss' ceremony. Strawberry readily acknowledges his gratitude for George Steinbrenner, as The Boss gave him a chance with the Yankees in 1996 after his career was nearly derailed by cocaine use. But Strawberry was absent from the unveiling of Steinbrenner's monument Monday night, an event many former players attended.
He said he was invited but could not be there. "I was very close to The Boss, but no, I wasn't there. I've been tied up with some things myself," Strawberry said, declining to elaborate.
